"I am look for the Señor Jim. I am Ramon, of his place. From the rancho I ride to Stacey. He is not there. Then I come here." "And you ain't particular about wakin' folks up to tell 'em, either." "I would find him," said Ramon simply. "What's your business with Jim Waring?" "It is that I am his friend. I know that he is ride looking for the men who killed my patron the Señor Pat. I am Ramon." "Uh-uh. Well, suppose you are?" "It is not the suppose. I am. I would find Señor Jim." "Who said he was here?" "The señora at the hotel would think that he was here." Starr scratched his grizzled head. Waring had said nothing about the Mexican. And Starr did not like Mexicans. Moreover, Waring had said to tell no one that he had been at the Starr Ranch. "I don't know where Jim Waring is," said Starr, and, stepping back, he closed the door. Ramon strode to his horse and mounted. All gringos were not like the Señor Jim. Many of them hated Mexicans. Ah, well, he would ride back to Stacey. The señora at the cantina was a pleasant woman. She would not shut the door in his face, for she knew who he was. He would ask for a room for the night. In the morning he would search for Señor Jim. He must find him. Mrs. Adams answered his knock at the hotel door by coming down and letting him in. Ramon saw by the office clock that it was past three. She showed him to a room. No, the señor had not been at the Starr Rancho. But he would find him. Ramon tiptoed to the open window, and knelt with his arms on the sill. A falling star streaked the night. "And I shall as soon find him as I would find that star," he murmured. "Yet to-morrow there will be the sun. And I will ask the Holy Mother to help me. She will not refuse, knowing my heart." Without undressing, he flung himself on the bed. As he slept he dreamed; a strange, vivid dream of the setting sun and a tiny horseman limned against the gold. The horseman vanished as he rose to follow. If he were only sure that it was the Señor Jim! The dream had said that the señor had ridden into the west. In the morning-- With the dawn Ramon was up. Some one was moving about in the kitchen below. Ramon washed and smoothed his long black hair with his hands. He stepped quietly downstairs. Breakfast was not ready, so he walked to the kitchen and talked with Anita. To her, who understood him as no gringo could, he told of his quest. She knew nothing of the Señor Jim's whereabouts, save that he had come yesterday and talked with the señora. Anita admired the handsome young Mexican, whose face was so sad save when his quick smile lightened the shadow. And she told him to go back to the ranch and not become entangled in the affairs of the Americanos. It would be much better for him so. Ramon listened patiently, but shook his head. The Señor Jim had been kind to him; had given him his life down in the Sonora desert. Was Ramon Ortego to forget that?